Steve Agnew has revealed that the knee injury sustained by Fabio against Arsenal isn't as bad as first feared and the Brazilian could be fit to face Bournemouth on Saturday .

The manager will check on Fabio on Friday morning before deciding whether the full-back will make the trip to the south coast with the squad.

But whereas there's hope on the Fabio front, Boro will be without captain Grant Leadbitter and keeper Victor Valdes for the game against the Cherries.

The skipper is nursing a sore hamstring while Valdes is still feeling the effects of a rib injury picked up against Burnley a fortnight ago.

"It's good news on Fabio, it's not as bad as we first thought," said Agnew in his press conference ahead of Saturday's game.

"We will have a look in the morning to see if he can make the weekend."

Boro's Fabio Da Silva (Image: Evening Gazette)

He added: "Grant's hamstring is sore, he will miss the weekend game. Victor's ribs are really sore, so he will miss the game.

"Victor hurt his ribs against Burnley, carried on and then trained through the pain the majority of last week, but couldn't play against Arsenal. It is difficult with rib injuries, they can be very sore and uncomfortable."

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Agnew also revealed that Rudy Gestede got a knock to his foot against Arsenal but the striker trained this morning and is fit to feature at the Vitality Stadium.

Here's what Agnew told the TV cameras in the broadcast section of his press conference.....

Still believe you can turn it round?

I was really, really pleased with Monday's performance. The players were disappointed we lost the game but I was pleased with effort and intensity.

We remain confident, preparing for the game against Bournemouth.

We have to go to Bournemouth and win the game, that's what we'll be setting up to do.

Do you think the players have picked up since you took charge?

What I have seen is when we've watched the games back and had meetings there's lots of positivity in the forward play.

The chances are being created but aren't quite being taken. The combination of long and short passes to create opportunities, set-plays. It's been cleared off the line, dropped in six yard box, a good save, we need it to come together.

Alvaro Negredo of Middlesbrough (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Do you need to be more direct?

We have a combination of attackers. We have good dribblers but we also have players like Alvaro, Rudy, Stuani, Bamford who can play on the last man and we need to bring those into play.

What's the main reason the season has unravelled?

I think confidence and belief. That comes through winning games.

We haven't won a game in 2017.

Are you planning for next season - what are your plans moving forward?

It'll not change. There is so much work going on behind the scenes with all the staff, all the players, and we're all just focusing on the next game.